Steve Ballmer's annual letter to shareholders makes it very clear Microsoft is at a point of no return - and in the middle of a transition into a hardware company. "This is a significant shift, both in what we do and how we see ourselves - as a devices and services company. It impacts how we run the company, how we develop new experiences, and how we take products to market for both consumers and businesses." Line. Sand.

So lets assume Microsoft wants to be like Apple and transition to a hardware/software company. Microsoft picks a particular vendor to work with in China, and locks out all the other PC manufacturing companies. Then we have two companies making all the toys, our options to have choice have now been narrowed to two.

Microsoft has basically saved the world. One will not need to worry anymore about hackers, malware, or cybercriminals because they can't run Linux on a Microsoft device (same as Apple). Microsoft, like Apple is now in complete control about what happens on their devices. Microsoft will then be praised for what has occurred, and Ballmer will be elevated to a level of Godhood....for what he has accomplished. (Jobs will be his "Son".....)

But Google will step up, and also develop their hardware based on Android, and offer the third option (its not really Linux you can control, because like the other companies, we need to be in control so you all don't hurt yourselves). Then the technological "Holy Trinity"....will be complete....